Chapter 277

The agony grew until I tasted the distinct copper flavor of blood—my own blood.

My body seemed to clench in on itself, as if I was vomiting and being vacuumed into the center of my existence. I wanted to scream and cry but couldn't draw in even the smallest breath. I clutched Alexis with hands like claws and saw him through a haze of red.

I was bleeding from my eyes.

Alexis carried me swiftly down the beach screaming, "Oni! Oni, help!" He stumbled into their house and met Ran in the kitchen. "Where's Oni?"

"What the fuck did you do to her?" Ran screamed.

"I didn't…" Alexis said.

Ran grabbed me from Alexis and placed me gently on the floor. He held my face. "Oni!" Ran screamed until I was surrounded by a blur of faces and touches.

And then I heard the soothing voice of Oni in my head. Let it go, the thought, the words, even the idea of telling him what you learned from the Mother. Let it go.

In the back of my mind, I was still thinking about all the things I needed to share with